Criminal Justice Reform Research Articles

THE ROLE OF PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS AND PARLIAMENTARY AMNESTIES IN UZBEKISTAN'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

This research examines the development, implementation, and impact of presidential pardons and parliamentary amnesties in Uzbekistan's criminal justice system from independence in 1991 through the present day. Through systematic analysis of legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and documented practices, this study investigates how these clemency powers have evolved and their role in shaping criminal justice outcomes. Drawing on primary legal sources, international organization reports, and scholarly analyses, this research contributes to the understanding of post-Soviet legal development and criminal justice reform in Central Asia. The findings reveal the complex interplay between executive and legislative clemency powers while highlighting both achievements and challenges in their implementation.

Film intervention increases empathic understanding of formerly incarcerated people and support for criminal justice reform

Nuanced portrayals of stigmatized groups in media have been shown to reduce prejudice. In an online experiment (N = 749), we tested whether a feature film depicting incarcerated peoples' experiences in the criminal justice system can increase a) empathic accuracy and compassion toward people who have been incarcerated and b) support for criminal justice reform. We measured baseline empathic accuracy via a well-validated task, where participants infer the emotions of people sharing stories about difficult life events. All storytellers were formerly incarcerated and students. However, in half the videos we labeled them as "formerly incarcerated" and in the remaining half as "college student." We then surveyed people's baseline attitudes toward criminal justice reform. Next, we assigned participants to watch one of three films. The intervention film chronicled the true stories of Black men on death row. Two docudramas of similar length served as control films. Finally, participants completed the empathic accuracy task and survey again and were given the opportunity to sign a petition. Compared to those who watched a control film, participants who watched the intervention film more accurately inferred the emotions of storytellers labeled "formerly incarcerated," and increased their support for criminal justice reform. These effects held for conservative and liberal participants alike. However, the film had no effect on feelings of compassion. Together, these results demonstrate the power of narrative interventions to not only increase empathic accuracy for members of a severely stigmatized group, but to increase support for reforms designed to improve their lives.

The Who, What, and How of Interagency Criminal Justice–Behavioral Health Teams: Developing and Sustaining Collaborations

Interagency teams are considered an evidence-based change practice, but there is a paucity of research examining them in criminal justice (CJ) and behavioral health (BH) reform contexts. This study draws on qualitative interviews ( n = 52) and survey data ( n = 791) from BH and CJ leaders across the United States to examine who is on them, what they do, and effective strategies for building and sustaining them. Findings indicated that CJ–BH interagency teams often incorporate agencies from a range of CJ, BH, social service, and health agencies. Teamwork focused on connecting clients to resources or contributing to CJ–BH coalitions and resource centers. Although the team-building strategies learning about/from other agencies and system integration were significantly associated with developing more collaborations, consensus-building activities were not. These findings suggest that interagency teams need not necessarily reach consensus on goals and vision prior to working together, as this can be built through collaboration.

Improving Treatment in Treatment Court: A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) of the Drug Court Experience

Drug courts have played a key role in criminal justice reform, particularly in supporting substance use and mental health disorder recovery. Little is known, though, related to drug court participants’ views on the strengths of the program that support their recovery and what suggestions they have to improve programming. This qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) provides a behind-the-scenes perspective of drug court programming from the voices of participants (n = 183). Based on data extracted from a synthesis of nine qualitative studies, three new themes emerged related to the strengths of drug court that support recovery and suggestions to improve programming. The new themes are: (1) Improving treatment in treatment court; (2) The interplay between internal motivation for change and dignity and respect for all; and (3) Being future oriented: Developing a sustainable recovery support system. Implications for drug court practice, policy advocacy, and future research are discussed. Drug courts should revisit how clinical information is exchanged between treatment providers and the justice system, and potentially reduce this collaboration. Furthermore, recommendations are offered on how drug courts can support participants in developing internal motivation for recovery and in sustaining recovery post-drug court.

The examiner as a subject of a party to criminal proceedings by the prosecution

It is indicated that the process of modernization of the system of criminal justice bodies is underway in Ukraine, the purpose of which is to improve the system of public administration and improve mechanisms for protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. In particular, the concept of criminal justice reform of Ukraine, approved by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 04/08/2008 No. 311/2008, was implemented in the aspect of updating criminal, criminal procedural and administrative tort legislation. As part of the humanization of criminal legislation, the following steps have been taken: felony crimes have been reclassified as criminal misdemeanors, the procedure for bringing to justice persons who have committed criminal misdemeanors has been simplified, and the work of criminal justice bodies has been optimized in the detection, investigation, and trial of cases. The scientific publication examines topical issues of the place and role of the investigator in criminal proceedings, including through a comparison of the procedural status of the investigator and the investigator. Taking into account the powers of the inquirer, defined by the law that introduces this institute, the burden on the specified subject of criminal proceedings is examined in comparison with the investigator on the example of a specific region, with statistical data on registered, completed and sent to court criminal proceedings. The norms of the current criminal procedural legislation are analyzed, which determine the authority of the inquirer in the process of carrying out a pre-trial investigation of criminal misdemeanors. The legal status of the inquirer as a subject of registration in the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations is outlined, the imperfection of the introduced norms is noted due to the limitation of the procedural powers of the head of the inquiry in comparison with the head of the investigative unit, and the negative procedural consequences are indicated due to some legislative gaps that require amendments to the current Criminal Code of the procedural code of Ukraine. Based on the results of the research, conclusions and proposals regarding the improvement of national legislation were formulated, and the prospect of further research on this topic was determined.

Criminal Justice Reform: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in Reducing Recidivism

Criminal Justice Reform: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in Reducing Recidivism

Maintaining fidelity to the treatment court model through evaluation: The racial and ethnic disparities (RED) program assessment tool

ABSTRACT Treatment courts have played a key role in criminal justice reform by offering an alternative to incarceration for individuals who have substance use and mental health disorders. The treatment court model requires programs to complete evaluations, as well as measure potential racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes. This study contributes to literature by using the Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Program Assessment Tool to see if treatment courts (n = 151) have fidelity to the model by completing regular evaluation and to assess for racial and ethnic disparities in graduation rates. Treatment courts in this study, for the most part, were not faithful to the model by completing regular evaluation. Specifically, only 34% of the programs regularly examined graduation outcomes by race and ethnicity. Additionally, racial and ethnic disparities did exist where white participants were more likely than African American and Hispanic participants to graduate treatment court. Implications for policy advocacy, treatment court practice, and future research are discussed.

‘Do no harm’: mass supervision and the ruse of carceral humanism

Abstract In recent years, scholarship has chronicled the role of probation in the rise of mass incarceration and has concluded that community supervision is a trap that routinely punishes the poor under the threat of incarceration. Starting in 2010, under a reform-minded new commissioner, the New York City Department of Probation (DOP) sought to roll back probation’s punitive role. In sharp contrast to the tough-on crime approach of previous decades, the DOP adopted the motto ‘Do no harm, do more good, and do it in the community’, and became the first probation department in the nation to spearhead a local justice reinvestment project. Its signature initiative was the decentralization of probation into a series of store front offices known as the Neighbourhood Opportunity Network, which embedded the agency more deeply into poor and working-class communities of colour. Relying on ethnographic research with probation officers, systems involved youth of colour, and non-profit organizations in the South Bronx, this article examines the limits of carceral humanism as a growing trend in recent criminal justice reform efforts.

Treiber, Hubert (2021). Die „rückwärtsgewandte Expertenreform“ – Eine verwaltungswissenschaftliche Studie zur Großen Strafrechtsreform der 1950er Jahre. Halle an der Saale: Universitätsverlag Halle-Wittenberg. 169 Seiten. ISBN: 978-3-86977-244-8.

The empirical study applies cluster analyses to records of the commission on criminal justice reform. By analysing discrepancies in the individual voting behaviour of the commission members, the study identifies distinct clusters which coincide with the commission members’ professional background: While the commission members with a scientific background hardly ever form a homogenous group, commission members who practice law e. g. as judges or who are public servants show a more consistent behaviour. This is attributed to the distinct role perceptions within the respective profession. Overall, the commission members represented mostly conservative values, leading to a criminal justice reform with strong reference to previous drafts. With this in mind, the book furthermore analyses rhetorical strategies used within the legal profession to obscure a person’s involvement in the Nazi-Regime.

Criminal Justice Reform: Examining Strategies for Reducing Mass Incarceration and Promoting Rehabilitation

The pressing issue of mass incarceration and explores strategies for criminal justice reform aimed at reducing incarceration rates and promoting rehabilitation. It highlights the social, economic, and human costs of mass incarceration and discusses the need for evidence-based policies and innovative approaches to address systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration has reached unprecedented levels in many countries, including the United States, where it has disproportionately impacted communities of color and contributed to cycles of poverty, inequality, and recidivism. The abstract discusses the various factors driving mass incarceration, such as mandatory minimum sentences, three-strikes laws, disparities in sentencing, and the war on drugs.

Beyond racial resentment: Systemic racism beliefs and public attitudes toward criminal justice institutions and reforms

AbstractIntroductionSystemic racism theory has become a central part of academic and public discussions about criminal justice institutions and reforms. Little, however, is known about the association between people's belief in the ubiquity of systemic racism and their attitudes toward criminal justice institutions and reforms.MethodsTo fill this gap, we examine the association between systemic racism beliefs and support for police, police reform, and the BLM movement using a national YouGov sample of 1125 U.S. adults.ResultsSystemic racism beliefs are associated with Americans’ attitudes toward all three outcomes, net of a wide range of controls, including negative experiences with police, political ideology, and most notably, racial resentment.ConclusionOur study provides compelling evidence that belief in systemic racism is an important driver of Americans’ support for police, police reforms, and BLM.

Optimizing the Detective's Burden: A Data-Driven Approach to Enhancing Investigative Productivity

This study examines the critical issue of detective workload and its impact on investigative effectiveness. While detectives play a vital role in solving crimes and upholding justice, they often face overwhelming workloads that can hinder their ability to focus on core investigative activities. The overall aim of this study is to utilize workload analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of detective work and identify evidence-based strategies to increase their productivity in criminal investigations. This research analyzes detective workload through a data-driven lens, exploring the challenges and opportunities for improvement. Main topics the impact of heavy workloads on detective productivity and well-being. Current workload distribution and its limitations Innovative strategies for workload management (e.g., data-driven case prioritization, workload sharing). The role of technology adoption (e.g., digital forensics tools, data analysis platforms) in streamlining investigations. The importance of work-life balance for detective well- being and performance. Key Arguments traditional investigative practices and an imbalance between administrative and investigative tasks significantly impede detective productivity. Implementing data- driven workload management strategies can optimize detective time allocation and improve case resolution rates. Utilizing advanced investigative technologies equips detectives with efficient tools to analyze evidence and identify leads. Promoting a healthy work-life balance for detectives reduces stress and burnout, ultimately contributing to investigative effectiveness. Methodology this research employs a comprehensive approach, drawing on. Literature Review analyzing existing research on detective workload, productivity, and innovative investigative techniques. Policy Review: Examining existing policies and practices related to detective workload management and technology adoption within police departments. Significance this research has significant implications for policymakers, police leadership, and detectives themselves. Policymakers can leverage the findings to develop evidence-based strategies for optimizing detective workload and improving investigative efficiency. Police leadership can utilize the recommendations to implement data-driven workload management practices and equip detectives with the necessary technology and training. Detectives can gain valuable insights into workload management strategies and advocate for initiatives that promote well-being and enhance their investigative capabilities. Audience this research is targeted towards a broad audience, including: Policymakers involved in criminal justice reform and police department funding. Police leadership seeking to enhance detective productivity and improve investigative outcomes. Detectives and law enforcement professionals seeking to optimize their workload and improve investigative efficiency. Academic researchers interested in the field of criminal justice and police work.

One crime wave, three hypotheses: using interrupted time series to examine the unintended consequences of criminal justice reform, computer tablet recording of crime and a long-term hot spots policing programme

After sustained reductions in robberies and thefts in 2016, the city of Montevideo, Uruguay, experienced a sudden increase in these crimes in late 2017. Using interrupted time series regressions, and controlling for seasonality using ARIMA models, we investigated three potential explanations for this increase: (1) the failure of a hot spots policing program to maintain crime decreases; (2) improved crime recording by police patrols using tablet computers; and (3) the change from an inquisitorial to an adversarial criminal justice procedure. We found that the hot spots policing program that began in April 2016 continued to be associated with crime reductions during 2017, that the increases observed after November 2017 were strongly associated with the new criminal justice procedure, and that tablets had a positive, albeit negligible, effect. The findings illustrate that criminal justice reforms, desirable as such reforms may be, can have unintended consequences on crime levels.

The Idea of Sex Work

Abstract Focusing on the UK case, this essay explores how ideas and political practices around sex as work took root in a particular national space and shifted over time. Sex work helped to alter the political and social perception of sex traders, repudiating their marginality and positioning them in the mainstream of ordinary working lives. Beginning in the 1970s, political activists aligned the idea of sex as work with a defense of female practitioners as “ordinary” women doing ordinary women’s work. Sex work offered substantial rhetorical advantages for rights activists, who linked a work paradigm to practical demands for criminal justice reform and social and health initiatives. At the same time, the idea of sex as work provoked challenges inside and outside the ranks of sex traders. Antiviolence campaigners disputed that prostitution was a “job like any other” and competed with sex work projects for state resources and recognition. The discourse of sex work also occasioned some resistance within the ranks of sex traders, revealing disparate views about identity politics, the state and the market, and even what sex and work meant.

Criminal Justice Reform: Examining Strategies for Reducing Mass Incarceration and Promoting Rehabilitation

The pressing issue of mass incarceration and explores strategies for criminal justice reform aimed at reducing incarceration rates and promoting rehabilitation. It highlights the social, economic, and human costs of mass incarceration and discusses the need for evidence-based policies and innovative approaches to address systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration has reached unprecedented levels in many countries, including the United States, where it has disproportionately impacted communities of color and contributed to cycles of poverty, inequality, and recidivism. The abstract discusses the various factors driving mass incarceration, such as mandatory minimum sentences, three-strikes laws, disparities in sentencing, and the war on drugs.

Revisiting the Origins of Felony Disenfranchisement in the United States

Abstract We trace the origin of felony disenfranchisement from the colonial period through Reconstruction. On the eve of the Civil War, three-quarters of states had criminal disenfranchisement statutes. These laws were based on “legal moralism” principles, which limited the franchise to those in good standing with the community. Efforts at disenfranchisement grew as access to the ballot increased and criminal justice reforms replaced capital and corporal punishment for imprisonment. We highlight important transformations in felony disenfranchisement during Reconstruction, specifically in new state constitutions and the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. All but one Southern state included felon disenfranchisement in their new constitutions that the Republican-controlled Congress ratified for readmission to the United States. Radical Republicans in Congress and state legislatures were in most cases advocates of felony disenfranchisement to exclude former Confederates from political participation.

China's criminal justice reforms against youth violence: punishment with leniency?

ABSTRACT The issue of addressing youth violence through criminal justice reform has been extensively studied in the Western world, particularly the United States. However, research investigating similar efforts in China has been relatively limited, with few normative studies being the exception. This paper presents China's approach to tackling youth violence by examining the nation's criminal justice reform initiatives in recent years. Specifically, this study examines China's implementation of a lower age of criminal responsibility and the Supreme People's Procuratorate's system for approving the prosecution of juvenile offenders. These measures do not necessarily contravene the best interests of children. Rather, they are implemented to address public concerns and to prevent unjust outcomes in individual cases. Furthermore, China's criminal justice system continues to emphasize the importance of forgiveness and care for young offenders. Thus, it is crucial to approach the issue of youth violence from a multidisciplinary perspective, incorporating considerations of pedagogy, criminology, and psychology, in addition to legal measures.

Legal Aid and Criminal Justice Reform : Advancing Fairness and Equity

This paper discusses significant contribution that legal aid and criminal justice reform makes to ensure that the legal justice system is fair and equitable. Although several improvements have been made, criminal justice system still suffers from inequalities and discrimination that mainly affect those who are considered weaker segments of society. The research paper discusses the historical frame of legal aid and outlines the development of fairness and equity in justice, while laying concern on the problems of access to the legal aid and consequences of an unfair justice system. The present review of proposed and implemented reforms including bail, sentencing and policing reforms aims to cover experiential lessons from other jurisdictions. Moreover, the functions of legal aid services with respect to criminal justice reforms will be in the spotlight, highlighting the necessity of legal representation to achieve fair outcomes. The research ends with the analysis of the societal profitability of the reform and offers some policy recommendations to be implemented in future. Through incorporation of case studies, statistics and international perception, this study is aimed at giving ideas on best ways to the most just legal system.

Do progressive prosecutors increase crime? A quasi‐experimental analysis of crime rates in the 100 largest counties, 2000–2020

AbstractResearch summaryIn recent years, there has been a rise in so‐called “progressive prosecutors” focused on criminal justice reforms. Although there has been considerable debate about the relationship between progressive prosecution policies and crime rates, there has been surprisingly little empirical research on the topic. Building on the limited extant research, we examined whether the inauguration of progressive prosecutors in the nation's 100 most populous counties impacted crime rates during a 21‐year period (2000 to 2020). After developing an original database of progressive prosecutors in the 100 largest counties, we used heterogeneous difference‐in‐differences regressions to examine the influence of progressive prosecutors on crime rates. Results show that the inauguration of progressive prosecutors led to statistically higher index property (∼7%) and total crime rates (driven by rising property crimes), and these effects were strongest since 2013—a period with an increasing number of progressive prosecutors. However, violent crime rates generally were not higher after a progressive prosecutor assumed control.Policy implicationsDespite concerns that the election of progressive prosecutors leads to “surging” levels of violence, these findings suggest that progressive‐oriented prosecutorial reforms led to relatively higher rates of property crime but had limited impact on rates of violent crime. In fact, in absolute terms, crime rates fell in jurisdictions with traditional and progressive prosecutors. Yet, relative property crime rates were greater after the inauguration of progressive prosecutors. Given that prior research shows progressive prosecutors reduce mass incarceration and racial inequalities, our findings indicate that higher property crime rates may be the price for these advancements.

The Characteristics and Historical Traditions of Criminal Procedures in the Medieval Mongolian Law

The purpose of our study is to research the criminal justice system's evolution, history, and reform in medieval Mongolia. Studying the evolution, history, and reform of the criminal justice system in medieval Asian countries is a fascinating and important endeavor. Additionally, a historical and legal analysis will be conducted, focusing on the era's innovative approaches to investigation and victim rights thinking. Understanding the history of investigative services is closely tied to the development of legal regulations for handling criminal cases